Mail-box holder.



J. H. FISHER.

MAIL BOX HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Oct. 12,1909.

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lm/Mucous J. H. FISHER. MAIL BOX HOLDER. I APPLICATION FILED BEPT.25, 1906.

Patentd Oct. .12

1 3 SHEETS-8113B! 2.

. I jgwjwvwwozz wi/lmaooeo I. H. FISHER.

MAIL BOX HOLDER. urmoumn FILE-D $12125, 1906.

936,527, Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. v

UNITED STATES raaENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. FISHER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES McC. CHAPMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAIL-BOX HOLDER.

936.527. Patented-Oct. 12, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 25, 1906. Serial No.

Fig. 2, the section of this f gure being taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the holding'plate shown in the \ashington, District of Columbia, have inform of Fig. 7; and Fig. is a front elevented a new, and useful Improvement in vation of a portion of the back of the mail- Mail-Box Holders, of which the following box constructed for the application of my is a description. invention in the form of Figs. 7, S and 9.

'lhisinvention relates to mail-box holders eferring to the drawings, and, particularly, to mechanism and devices indicates-a iy means of which a mail-box of any type the back thereof being indicated by 2. The may be applied to posts, walls and practipost or support is indicated by 3, which,

cally any kind of support now ordinarily obviously, may be of any form or shape, used.

To all whom it may concern: I lie it known that I, Join: H. F Isnnn, a citizen of' the United States, residing in conventional mail or letter-box,

the numeral 1 viz., circular or flat. In this form of my Among the objects of my invention may invention the supporting-block or iron is be noted the following: to provide a safe, indicated by 4, the back of which is made strong holder for mail-boxes which cannot more or less curved so as to correspond, or be dislodged and cannot be tampered with approximately correspond, in this instance 'roi'n the outside, to provide a holder so to the surface to which it is to be applied. applied. that the box can only be removed The face of the holder, as clearly shown in from its support from the inside of the bov Figs. 2 and 4, is formed with the elongated to provide a simple, compact and cheap recess 5, extending longitudinally of the supholder for mail-boxes which is practically porting-block 4, an aperture 6 being formed universally applicable to all kinds of supthrough the back of the block near the top ports; and to provide a holder for mailof the said recess 5. Near the bottom of the boxes which will securely hold the box on block, a circular recess 7 is formed, in the its support and which, when all its parts bottom of which, and through the back of are properly set, will prevent any movement the holder, is formed an aperture 8. A solid of said box relatively to its support. I ridge-piece or portion 9 separates the two Vith the above objects in view, and others recesses 5 and 7, the same affording a central which will be detailed during the course of support for the back 2 of the mail-box. this description, my invention consists in the he end-portions 10 and 11 of the block also parts,-features and combination of elements form rests for the back 2 of the mail-box. hereinafterdescribed and claimed. A screw-threaded aperturev 12 is formed in he accompanying drawings form a part i the bridge-piece 9 and screw threaded aperof the specification, and therein: Figure 1 I tures 13 are formed at opposite sides of the is a longitudinal section of a mail-box showtop of the block above the elongated recess 5, ing a form of my holder applied thereto and the said block being somewhat enlarged or supporting the same upon the conventional spread as at 14, preferably, to afford a ainp-post, a portion of which latter is also greater bearing and better support for the shown; Fig. 2 is a vertical central section, back of the box. Now viewing Fig. 2, it very much enlarged, of a portion of a post or I will be seen that the screw-bolt 15, with an ot er suppoi t, showing the mode of securl enlarged angular head, passes through the mg the holder thereto and the mail-box to I aperture 8 in the bottom of the circular re the holder; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on cess 7 of the block and is screwed or tapped the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig.4 is a front into the support 3, the head of the bolt 15, elevation of a portion of the holder; Fig. 5 obviously, engaging the bottom of the recess is a front elevation of the supporting-block and being entirely housed within the latter, of the holder; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of as will be readily understood. A similar the holding-plate these in fi ures SllOWlIl bolt 16 passes through the aperture 6 in the one form of my invention; Fig. 7 is a front, bottom of the recess 5, said bolt 16 being elevation, similar to Fig. 4, showing another f my invention; Fig. 8 is a View just described with reference to the bolt' 15, similar to Fi 2, showing the form of my 1 and its head engaging the bottom of the reinvention of Fig. 7 applied in the manner of cess 5' and being entirely housed by the latter.

screwed or tapped into the support 3, as

Fig. 3, at the ,with the screw-threaded aperture 12 in the back of the mail-box and said box securely and tightly against the supportiiig-l'ilock. The screws 18 and l.) are then turnmllo the requisite degree, in order to bind the top of the holding-plate against the face of the back of the mail-box, it being clear that the flexing of said holdin As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the back 2 of the mail-box is set against the face of the supporting-block 4, said back engaging the bridge 9 and the end-portions 10 and 11,. and a screw 17 with a large head, passes through the back of the box and cooperates bridge-portion 9 of the block. Similar screws 18 and 19 arepassed through the back of the mail-box 2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and cooperate with the apertures 13 in the top of the block 4, the three screws 17, 18 and 19 thus forming a support for the mail-box to hold the same in engagement with the supporting-block 4.

Inasmuch as the ends of the supportingscrews 18 and 19 are exposed, as shown in back of the block 4, said ends are spread, enlarged or flattened as at 20, in order to firmly set said screws in place and prevent their removal under any circumstance. The holding-plate 21 is rectangular in form and is pre erably made of. strong, spring-metal, and is given a bow or curve form lengthwise, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, where the holding-screws 17, 18 and 19 have not been screwed in tight. The holding-plate 21 is provided with key-hole slots, viz., slots having a central, circular portion '22, and long, oppositely-extending narrow portions 23, these slots being located near the corners of the top-portion of the holdingplate. Near the bottom of the holding-plate and substantially centrally thereof an aperexert a considerable pressure against the back of the box to hold the Salnc firmly in place. The ends 20 of the screws 18 and 19 will be spread, split or enlarged to prevent them from being turned or removed.

By making the key-hole slots of the form shown in Fig. the apertures 12 and 24 and the corresponding aperture in the back of the mail-box is permitted, and the holdingplate 21 may be moved either up or down, in setting it in place, cause its aperture 24 to register with the aperture 12 and the one in the back of the mail-box. Moreover, in order ,to insure aecurate registry of the apertures for screw 17 by dottedlines in Fig. 6, thus compensating for any variation in the disposition of the aperture. in the back of the mail-box. ()bviousl if the screws 18 and 19 are not forced -in su ciently far press the holding-plate 21 flat and tight against the back of the mail-box, it is only necessary, whenit is desired to remove the mail-box from its support, to remove the -plate by the several I screws 17 18 and 19 will cause said plate to 6. variation in the position of L to bring it into proper position to the aperture 24 maybe elongated, as shown to. cause their heads to ture 24 is formed. a screw 17 and then slide the plate.21 to bring It will now be understood, and especially the enlarged portion 22 of the key-hole slots with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, that thereof into position to pass over the heads after. the supporting-block or iron 4 has been of the screws 18 and 19. The box can then secured in place upon the support. 3, the be rempved from its support. \Vhenlhe box heads of the bolts 15 and 16 will be housed is properly set in place, however, all the W within the recess 5 and 7 of the supportingserews will be tightly set so as to force the block out of contact with the back of the holding-plate 21 tightly against the-back of mail-box 2. The mail-box will then be set the mail-box and'the latter tightly against in place and held by the two screws 18 and the back 4, as shown in Fig. 1. i I 19, which will be passed through the key- In the form of Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, the hole slots or apertures 26, see Fig. 4, in the back 2 of the mail-box will be formed with back 'of the box as will be presently dean aperture 25 and key-hole slots with a'cirscribed with reference to Figs. 7 to 10, with cular portion 26, and a single, narrow-slot their heads a short distance from the face of extension 27, the said extension 27 extending said back. The holding-plate 21 will then upwardly toward the top of the box. The be set in place by passing the heads of the holding-plate in this form is indicated by screws 18 and 19 through the enlarged, cir- 28 and is provided with the aperture 29, cular portions 22.0f the key-hole slots, wherewhich may be an elongated slot as shown in upon the holding-plate will'be lifted so as Fig. 6, the key-hole slots near the upper to pass the-shank of the screws 18 and 19 corners being provided with the circular down into the elongated portions .23 of said portions 30 and narrow extensions 31, the key-hole slot. This will hold the plate 21 latter extending downwardly from the cir- 1n pos1t1on and bring the aperture 24 of 'cular portion 30 toward the bottom of the said plate into registry with the aperture in, plate, this being the reverse of the slots in the back of the mail-box and the screwthe back of the box. The supporting block threaded aperture 12 in the'bridge-portion or iron is in all material respects substan- 9 of the supporting-block or iron 4. The tially the same as in the other form, and the screw 17 is then passed through the several parts thereof are indicated by like numerals, apertures, thussetting the holding-plate setogether with the holding-screwbolts, etc. V0

curely and tightly against the face of the It will be noted, as shown in Fig. 8, that the holding-plate inthis torn) is not bowed I Either form may be longitudinally. being made tiat and fitting snugly against the face of the back of the mail-box. 1n orderto set the mail-box in place, the supporting-block is first secured to the support 3 by means of the screw-bolts 15 and 16 described with reference to the other form of my invention. 1 Thenthe screws 18 and 19 are passed into the apertures 13 at the top of the supporting-block. The mail-box is then set in place by passing the circular portion 26 ot' the key-hole slot over the heads of the screws 18 and 1.), whereupon the mail-box is'allowed to slide down upon the screws so that the shank of the latter will enter the elongatedslot-portions 27. The holdingplate is then set against the back of the mail-box by the heads of the screws 18 and 1!) through the circular portions 30 of the key-hole slots in the plate 28, whereupon the latter is slid vertically, so as to cause the shanks of the screws 18 and 19 to enter the elongated poitions 31 of the key-hole slots in the plate 28. Thus, the apertures 2f. 29 and 12 in the back of the box, the bottom of theholding-plate and the bridge-portion 9 of the supportingblock, respectively, are broughtinto registry. Then the screw 17 is passed through the several apertures and securely screwed into the supporting-block with its head tight against the face of the holding-plate 28'and the latwise enlarged, as at 20, in the first form described. Thus, the mail-box is securely held in position on the support. To remove the. box from the support in this form of my invention, the screw 'l7 should first be removed, whereupon the plate 28 may be sljid downwardly and removed from the and 19 and the mail-box may be slid vertically and also removed rom said screws 18 and 19.

In order to prevent any possibility of mail-matter being caught between the top of the holding-plate and the back of the mailbox. a guard or shield 32 may be applied to, or formed integral with, the holding-plate, as shown in Fig. 1, the same extending from the top of the plate and being inclined downwardly into the box so as to cover the top screws 18 and '19. This construction will shunt or deflect mail-matter into the box and prevent the same from bein cau ht HS SL1 2? b b gested. IIOWGVQI',

if the box is properly hung and the parts of the holder are properly'set, this guard will be unnecessary.

Having thus disclosed the details of construction of my inventioinjt will be readily understood that the material of the several parts of the holder may be of any kind of metal or composition desired, or portions thereof may be of hardwood, if desired.

passing tenings of the holder,

used with the same facility and each is effective for the purposes; but, the. form of Figs. 1 to t is preerred on account of the flexibility of the holder. That is to say, by making the holdingplate 21 bowed longitudinally andof spring-metal, the same is better adapted to hold the box in position and-is susceptible the box orits use may cause the parts to become loose. Merely 18 and 19 will, obviously, ness between the parts and bind the box securely, under any circumstance. By housing, the screw-bolts 15 and 16, as described, within the body of the supporting'block or iron. it is clear that they cannot be approached or tampered with except by removing the mail-box from the holder. Similarly. by placing the screws 17, 18 and 19 within the. mail-box, and likewise dis osing the holding-platc, it is impossible or the box to be take up any looseremoved from the holder without first opening said box. By splitting, otherwise enlarging the ends 18 and 19, which spreading or of the. screws are the only exposed fasit is'iinpossible for said screws to be removed, unscrewed or loosened, under any circumstance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat.- ent is:

1. A mail box holder having'in combination a supporting-block provided with recesses, in which the heads of securing bolts may be housed, and a holding-plate provided with key-hole slots for the reception 'of securing means, the saidblo'ck and plate also having apertures which may be brought. into registry with each other for the reception of a. securing means.

2. A mail-box holder havingin combination a supporting-block provlded with re-' cesses in which the heads of securing bolts may be housed and a. holding-plate forcooperation with said block made of resilient material and bowed longitudinally for creating. tension, as described, and the said block and plate having apertures which may be brought into registry for securing the parts together.

3. A mail-box holder having in combination a supporting-block provided with recesses in which the heads of securing bolts may be housed, and a holding-plate provided with a guard, said block and plate having a ertures which may be brought into registry or securing the parts together, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a mail-box, a supporting-block having recesses in which the heads of securing bolts may be housed and portions or bridge-pieces against which the back of the'box may be set, a holding-plate for engaging the back tightening the screws and means whereby said be caused to clamp the back of the mail box firmly between them.

5. In combination with a mail-box, of a supporting-block therefor secured to the outside thereof, said block having recesses in which the heads of securing bolts may be housed and covered by the backof said box, aholding-plate secured to the back of the box within the latter, and means, accessible only from within the box, for clamping said plate against the backjof the box and securing sai late and box rigidly to the supporting-b ock'.

(S. In combination with a mail-box, a supporting-block secured to the outside of the back thereof, a holdin -pla-te located within P the box, means, accessible only from within the box, for clamping said plate, box and of the mail-box, block and platomay nallv. thereof, and with a plurality of aper- I ture s for the passage of securing bolts; and a movable, independent plate cooperating with said block to hold the mail-box in place.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed mv name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. FISI-[El-t.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. Mummy, A. SLAUGHTER. 

